Usain Bolt in Maranello – ‘I feel like a Ferrari’

Usain Bolt, world-record holder and gold medal winner at the Olympic Games over 100 and 200 metres, experienced a special day in Maranello, where he tested a 458 Italia and 599 GTB Fiorano on the circuit of the Prancing Horse. The sprinter was excited in the cars as a passenger next to the test-drivers Dario Benuzzi and Raffaele De Simone, while later on he completed some laps himself behind the wheel. At the end of the day he couldn’t hide his adoration for the 458 Italia. "It’s a little bit like me, very reactive and determined!"

Later on Bolt joked about the high heartbeat provoked by test-driver Dario Benuzzi, who showed him how to control the car on a wet track. “I was really scared, but it was a good scared. I’m excited like a child.”

“Today,” Bolt added, “I feel very close to the team. I am sorry for yesterday’s result, but that’s sport, I know what I’m talking about. There are ups and downs, but it’s important to know how to get back on the track and I’m convinced that Ferrari know how to do that."

The visit to the Works was concluded with a trip to the atelier, Ferrari’s personalisation area, where Bolt met Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa.